Lamp-socket holder



LAMRSOCKET HOLDER Filed Sept. 26, 1925 WITNESSES a. o 1 M 1;

lNVENTO BY f ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES WALTER A. RILEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LAMP-SOCKET HOLDER.

Application filed September 26, 1925. Serial No. 58,901

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALTER A. RILEY, a citizen of the United States of America, and

i a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have. invented a new and Improved Lamp-Socket Holder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a supporting and attaching device, and has particular reference to an improvement in electric lamp socket holders and supports which are especially designed for the purpose of attaching and supporting electric lamps on Christmas trees.

leretofore electric lamps have been generally attached to Christmas trees by engaging twisted conductor wires of the lamp sockets over the limbs and branches of the tree and it has been noted that considerable difficulty has been experienced in securely maintaining the sockets in a selected position.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a simple, effective and, inexpensive means for supporting and maintaining the sockets in position upon the tree, which means permits of its ready attachment to or detachment from the tree, and, furthermore, allows for the ready connection and disconnection of the lamp sockets therewith.

\Vith the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following specifications and accompanying drawings, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention which is in no way intended as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claim as it is to be clearly understood that variations and modifications which properly fall within the scope of said claim may expedient.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of the device illustrating the application of the socket in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, with the socket applied thereto and illustrating the tree-clamping means in opened condition;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the socket-attaching and supporting device consists of a pair of members 10 and 11, each of which is of subbe resorted to when found stantially U-shaped configuration in cross section, defining bight portions 12 and side arms 13. The side arms 13 terminate a distance from one end of the bight portions 12 in overlapping lugs 1-1, through which a rivet 15 extends to constitute a pivot joining the members 10 and .11 together, with the arms 13 in confronting relation. The extending portions 16 of the bights form handles for swinging the opposite ends of the members 10 and 11 constituting clamping jaws, to an open position, a suitable spring 17 being provided for swinging said jaws to a closed relation. The confronting edges of the arms 13 are notched at-18 for embracing and gripping the branches of the tree. The side arms 13 of the member 10 are extended beyond the bight to provide the clip fingers 19 which are bulged medially outward and formed with constricted ends 20 having outwardly flared terminals 21. The clip fingers 19 are adapted to receive and frictionally grip the socket S of a lamp L, whereby said socket is deta-chably associated with the supporting and attaching device.

In use, the sockets may be either initially engaged with the clip fingers and the clamping jaws attached to the branches of the tree, or the devices may be first attached to the branches of the tree and the sockets subsequently engaged with the clip fingers 19.

From the foregoing it will thus be seen that an extremelrsimple yet inexpensive and effectual means has been devised for attaching and supporting lamp sockets from a tree or other support whereby the same may be effectually maintained in any desired position against accidental displacement.

\Vhat is claimed is A Christmas tree lamp socket attaching device, comprising a pair of pivotally connected spring-pressed clamping jaws of U- shaped cross sectional configuration, the side walls of one of said jaws being extended beyond the body portion thereof and formed to provide a pair of coacting clip fingers for frictionallyengaging and connecting alamp socket therewith, the confronting free edges of the side walls of said jaws having notched portions for embracingly engaging a branch of the tree, and means for normally effecting swinging of said jaws into clamped relation.

WALTER A. RILEY. 

